Bruton's Haywood Opts For Jmu

YORK — Marcus Haywood, who earned the Bay Rivers District defensive Player of the Year award at Bruton High in 2003, has committed to play football for James Madison University.

Haywood, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior, started at safety and tailback for Bruton. He rushed for 1,260 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in 2003, in addition to making 102 tackles and three interceptions. He received first-team all-district, all-region and Daily Press All-Stars honors. Haywood made visits to Hofstra and Howard before picking JMU. He will play safety for the Dukes.

"I picked James Madison because I like the campus life there more than at the other schools I visited," Haywood said. "I'd rather play defense in college because I like to hit people and I have a better feel for defense."

Kyle Neve, Haywood's coach at Bruton, said JMU's coaches are happy about that.

"They were impressed with the way Marcus came up from safety and hit people," Neve said. "They were also impressed that he never took a break on defense, even though he played on both sides of the ball."